SEC kickoff: Players to watch in Week 7
With six matchups involving Southeastern Conference teams on the docket for this Saturday (Kentucky and Auburn played each other on Thursday), here’s a list of the players to watch in each SEC game for Week 7 (all kickoff times are for Eastern Standard Time):
Noon ET, No. 13 Ole Miss at Memphis, ABC/ESPN2
Laremy Tunsil, LT, Ole Miss
This will be Tunsil’s first game of the season after serving a six-game suspension as the NCAA conducted an investigation into whether or not he had contact with sports agents. Tunsil is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, left tackle in college football and is expected to be one of the top picks in the next NFL Draft despite missing half of his junior season. Getting Tunsil back should provide a huge boost for the Rebels offense as Ole Miss takes on an undefeated Memphis team. But it will be interesting to see if Tunsil has any rust that needs to be shaken off.
Noon ET, Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State, SEC NETWORK
Richie Brown, LB, Mississippi State
Brown leads the Bulldogs in tackles so far this season with 54 and also has 3 sacks and an interception to add to his totals. He’s one of the leaders on Manny Diaz’s defense that will surely be motivated this week as their defensive coordinator takes on his former team. Brown’s ability to get in the backfield will be important when trying to stop a runner like Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Dixon.
3:30 p.m. ET, No. 10 Alabama at No. 9 Texas A&M, CBS
Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama
Henry is a guy that no one needs to be asked or told to watch. But besides just his incredible skill as a runner, another good reason to keep an eye on Henry this week is because of his touchdown streak. Henry has scored in 11 straight games dating back to last season when the Crimson Tide played LSU on Nov. 8. He is having a phenomenal season so far with 665 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
4 p.m. ET, Vanderbilt at South Carolina, SEC NETWORK
Marquavius Lewis, DE, South Carolina
Lewis finally broke out for the Gamecocks last week by recording 9 tackles and his first sack of the season. After getting off to a slow start with 7 tackles in the first four games combined, Lewis now has 17 tackles in South Carolina’s last two games. The Gamecocks will need him to keep it going against Vanderbilt if they want to win their first game of the post-Spurrier era.
7 p.m. ET, No. 8 Florida at No. 6 LSU, ESPN
Treon Harris, QB, Florida
Now that Florida starting quarterback Will Grier is suspended for a year following a failed drug test for PEDs, the Gators will turn to Harris to help continue momentum and maintain their undefeated record. Harris started the 2015 season opener and six games last season for Florida, going 5-2. However, after the first game this season, the Gators opted to go with a more pro-style passer in Grier, as opposed to Harris’ dual-threat skill set.
7:30 p.m. ET, Missouri at Georgia, SEC NETWORK
Sony Michel, RB, Georgia
Michel will be taking over for Nick Chubb, who was lost for the season with a knee injury in last week’s loss to Tennessee. He’s a former five-star recruit that has all the speed and shiftiness of Chubb, maybe even more. However, at 5-foot-11, 212 pounds, he lacks the power to pack a punch like Chubb did. Michel performed well against the Volunteers last week when Chubb went down, finishing the game with 145 rushing yards on 22 carries.